The Greatest Moments In Sports

A new collection from a New York Times best-selling author presents some of the greatest upsets and underdogs in sports history. Includes a CD.

Reprinted New York Times articles (created from 35mm microfilm).

Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics. Billie Jean King takes on Bobby Riggs in the Battle of the Sexes. Title IX is passed. Some moments in sports—whether they take place on a track, on a tennis court, or in a courtroom—transcend the event itself. Some have helped America live out its creed that all men are created equal. Others have pushed the nation toward gender equality. Others have changed individual sports to such a degree that they have transformed society. Powerful Moments in Sports: The Most Significant Sporting Events in American History encompasses more than a single player, team, or game. This book looks at how a particular event revolutionized a sport, how a contest of speed inspired a nation, or even how a humble victory affected the world. Martin Gitlin considers such impactful moments as Jackie Robinson’s integration of Major League Baseball, Gertrude Ederle becoming the first female to swim the English Channel—and shattering the times of five men who had accomplished the feat before her—and the underdog US hockey team defeating the Soviets at the 1980 Olympics. The twenty events featured in this book had profound social, political, and cultural importance and inspired athletes and spectators alike. Spanning multiple decades, Powerful Moments in Sports reveals the tremendous impact athletes have had on America—and the world—over the years. Covering football, baseball, hockey, basketball, track and field, boxing, and more, this book will fascinate and enlighten sports fans, historians, and those interested in the impact of athletic endeavors on culture and society.

Can you guess the most memorable sports moments to happen in the Big Apple? Collected together for the first time, The 20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports History chronicles the most memorable sporting events to be held in New York, ranking them based on importance and effect on the sport (and city). Broken down into four parts, each event will include the storyline that led up to the moment, original materials from the media coverage of the event, a column from a local journalist to lend perspective, and finally first-person accounts from the men and women that made these moments happen. Veteran journalists Todd Ehrlich and Gary Myers dive deep into each of these moments, sharing why they are so special and the reason we still talk about them today. Including original interviews and information previously unreleased, The 20 Greatest Moments in New York Sports History is not only for the New York sports fan, but anyone who appreciates the amazing effect that baseball, basketball, football, hockey, tennis, golf, boxing, and numerous other sports can have on our cities and country as a whole. So...which event will be at the top? Roger Maris breaking The Babe's Home Run record? Willis Reed hobbling onto the count before game seven against the Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals? David Tyree's "Helmet Catch" in Super Bowl XLII? Mark Messier's guarantee before the 1994 Stanley Cup? Tiger Woods dominating on Bethpage's "Black Course" to win the 2002 US Open? Or perhaps the bout at Madison Square Garden between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier? There's only one way to find out!

St. Louis produced the 1904 Olympics, the man who created tennis's Davis Cup, the first forward pass in football, one of the best collections of soccer talent in North America, a Man named Stan, a record-smashing seventy home runs in one season, and most recently, the Super Bowl champion Rams.

If you're a true sports fan, you'll love these exciting stories of great athletes and their deeds. The book includes such unforgettable events as these: In the face of death threats, Jackie Robinson hits, runs, and fields his way into the hearts of Dodgers fans—while breaking Major League Baseball's color barrier. Rather than "float like a butterfly," Muhammad Ali leans back against the ropes and lets George Foreman pound him with everything he's got. Is Ali foolish—or crazy like a fox? It's the seventh game of the 1998 NBA Finals. With seconds left on the clock, superstar Michael Jordan makes an incredible steal—and then squares around for one final shot. With 2:42 left to play in Super Bowl XLII, the Patriots, undefeated all season, lead the Giants 14–10. Still, Eli Manning refuses to give up. "Let's go win this thing," he says to his teammates. "Who's with me?"

Relive iconic moments from Michael Jordan, Jackie Robinson, Simone Biles, Team USA Hockey, and more through illustrated replays of 25 of the greatest moments in sports This richly illustrated book highlights the achievements and stories of notable athletes—male, female, able-bodied and Paralympians—from the 1800s to today, including trailblazers, Olympians, and record-breakers in more than 20 sports, making it a treasure trove for all the family to share. So sit back and enjoy sport’s greatest moments as a read-aloud story from the comfort of your armchair.